Choir

 "God's anger is just for a minute, his grace for a lifetime," Psalm 30:5.

Grief (real, to be sure!), like a tourist, needs lodging for the night. And then moves on. Joy comes to stay all the live long day. To wit, God's discipline, short lived, brings health, salvation. God's favor lasts through a lifetime into the joy of Morning to come. You, Jehovah God, have restored us to life from the pit. You brought up our souls from despair. You turned our sadness into dancing! You changed out our mourners' clothes into glad rags! So in our glory we sing praises to you. We can't stay quiet! We're a choir of thankfulness to you!

We remind a brother or sister today ... or, we let them remind us ... of God's life-giving work in Jesus. And together we say, Thank You! In tomorrow's morning he brings overwhelming joy.

Smooths

 "They shall not hunger or thirst, He will guide them by springs of water," Isaiah 49:10.

Jehovah God, the Redeemer of Israel, the Holy One of Israel has chosen you. You, who? You, deeply despised, you, abhorred, you, slave of rulers. You, who? Well, on the one hand, you, Israel personified. On the other hand, you, followers of Christ. On the other hand, you, Christ. God answers you. God helps you. God keeps you. God calls you, Come out of prison. God calls you, Come out of darkness. God provides food. God protects. From scorching wind. From striking sun. God eases the mountain path. God smooths out the road. God brings his own home, from the north. And home, from the west. And home, from far away. God comforts his people. God has compassion on his afflicted. The sky kingdom bursts into our world.

Therefore. With a brother or sister, today, we break out in song. We exult. Together we give thanks alongside the skies, the earth, the mountains. Blessing.

Laboring

 "To the present hour we hunger and thirst, we are poorly dressed and buffeted and homeless," 1 Corinthians 4:11.

Well. That does not sound all that exciting, does it? Who's talking here? Paul. About whom? About himself and others. And who are they? Followers of Jesus. People in mission for Jesus. They proclaim the kingdom of Christ. They advance the congregation of whom Jesus is Lord. But, Jesus would ease the hunger and thirst of people in this sky kingdom! If we believed in him. That's what we thought. Jesus says, Wait a minute: The sky kingdom breaks upon this world right now, but death still holds sway here. Church laboring. Comes a day, yet ahead, real soon now, when the sky kingdom expresses its full reign, crushing death itself. Church triumphant. So don't confuse this present manifestation of the kingdom with the End. Full satisfaction happens then. Hang on. Faithful to death. Then, crown of life.

So we wait together with a brother or sister for the consummation of the age. And we encourage each other in this world, but not as belonging to this world. No, belonging to the sky kingdom! And we give thanks to God that we be counted worthy of the sufferings of Christ.

Famine

 "Whoever comes to me will not hunger, never; and whoever believes in me will not thirst, never," John 6:35.

Different types of hunger, aren't there? Hunger or thirst for real, material food. Everybody's felt hunger pangs of empty stomachs. Missed a meal, perhaps. Or on a diet. Challenging to the will. Then, hunger because there's just no food to be had. Not a matter of will power. Empty cupboards. Famine. No hope for food this evening. Or for tomorrow. No food. And despair arising from fruitless search. Then, more subtle but as driving, hunger for meaning, for purpose, for hope. A famine from hearing the Word. Wandering here and there for the Word. But it's not to be had. Jesus fixes that.

We seek a brother or sister today, and break the bread of life together. We remember Jesus' words. We feast in doing his will. And we give thanks to God for deep satisfaction. Sky kingdom.

Yearn

 "Happy, you people thirsty and hungry for righteousness, you'll be filled," Matthew 5:6.

Long for a time when deep justice prevails? When the paths people trace for their lives show a way to wholesome living? When, life examined, you can witness fairness and equity of behavior toward others? Especially toward young people without privilege, or with it? Toward the elderly without family? Toward the tired, the poor, the homeless, the tempest-tossed? Yearn for righteousness to dwell in the land? When wrong is made right? Ache for an era when people honor the Creator truly, with compassionate action, not merely in lip service? Yes, of course we do! Kingdom of heaven. Well, Jesus says, you've come to the right place. Sky kingdom: the place to refill emptied, despairing souls.

Today we seek out a brother or sister and share God's faithful goodness. Together we give thanks for the new age breaking out into this old one. Kingdom of God. And of his Christ. For ever.

Presence

 "Even if I walk in the middle of death's shadow, I won't be afraid of any evil," Psalm 23:4.

And why not? because you, Jehovah God, are with me. What if I pray for a loved one, and you don't do as I wanted? You have restored health in the past. You are with me. I will yet hope in you. What if I pray for peace, but things just churn on? You have brought deep peace in the past. You are with me. I will yet hope in you. What if I pray for safety, but the storm still rages? You calmed my life's storms in the past. You are with me. I will yet hope in you. What if I plead with you to save, but you don't, what shall I do? Well, you saved in past times. You are with me. So, I will yet hope in you. Yes. Whatever may happen in this world: You will be there with me through it all. And in the next: I shall live in your house for ever. You are my shepherd. 

We find a brother or sister today, and we remind each other of God's for ever presence. Together, in the middle of plague, we will not fear. We will hope in him. And we give thanks.

Yielded

 "He trusted to him who judges justly," 1 Peter 2:23.

Now that's meek. No deceit. No vilifying. No threat. Jesus deferred injustice against himself to One able to judge in true justice. To God. Without vengeance, without malice. Woa! Wait a minute: Leaving it to God instead of to whom? Well, ultimately, to the human avenger of blood. You know: eye for eye, limb for limb, life for life. Tit for tat. Even steven. Balanced retaliation. No quarter for mercy. Jesus yielded all right - never mind privilege - to God. So. He can say, Yes, he can!, to those who follow him, happy, you meek. You get the earth. Trust me. You'll see.

We join a brother or sister today and, together, we entrust our right to our God. We offer sacrifice that acknowledges Him who judges justly. So we return blessing to those cursing us. And we give thanks. And enter our Father's joy.

Timing

 "When the Son of Man comes will he find faith on the earth?" Luke 18:8.

Jesus asks few questions. So we pay real close attention when he does. The discussion turns about losing heart. Does God really care? Responds Jesus: Believe it, God will vindicate his chosen people real quick. And this is the deal about being meek. Do we wait for God to handle injustice, or do we just dive in and force it? How long can we wait for God to get a move on and do something? What if God waits too long? Or, maybe, it's all arbitrary, no point to anything, just give up? Well, that's the deal, isn't it? God's timing may become our evidence for his carelessness. Which returns Jesus' question: Will the elect trust God all the way to the end?

We shall be of those who find heart, not of those who lose it. With a brother or sister today we meekly bring the troubles of our hearts before God. And, together, believing, we give thanks ahead of time. Before he rights all things. Before we inherit the earth.

Resolute

 "He will not yell out loud in the streets, nor crush a bruised grass stem, nor snuff out a faltering wick," Isaiah 42:2-3.

Describes Jesus' meekness. Gentle with the weakest. Unobtrusive. Among the quiet of the land. Powered in God's Spirit with a quiet spirit. Pressing kindly on, untiring, unfainting, undaunted, resolute until justice breaks out in the land. Until the races hope in him. Mild. Longsuffering. Kind. Kingdom of heaven on earth. Kingdom of God. God's congregation. Jesus' assembly. Church of Christ.

Today, alongside a brother or sister, we honor God for his unshakeable kingdom. Grateful, together, for his sky kingdom breaking out in this land right now. Hope in that meek One.

Righter

 "The meek shall obtain fresh joy in Jehovah," Isaiah 29:19.

So. Kingdom of God: rules of life upside down, right? I mean, Jesus pronounces blessing on powerless people. Here, for example, Meek. Who, pray tell, wants to be meek? Honestly, now. That passage elicits a desire from within, suddenly, to discuss when it's OK to be other than meek. Not gentle. Better yet, to discuss how the word Meek really doesn't mean Meek, but means something that is not really Meek. Like, Balanced Power. Definitely not meek. Or whatever. If he didn't mean Meek, why in the world say, Meek? But it's not just any meek person, mind you. It's the person who yields to God, who trusts in God to make things right. That's the meek. Who receives blessing. Sky kingdom. Congregation of Christ.

Setting aside religious/social arrogance, we meet with a brother or sister today. We receive each other attentively, meekly. And, together, we bless God, the righter of all wrongs.

Bequeath

 "Blessed, the meek, for they shall inherit the earth," Matthew 5:5.

Says Jesus. Success in the sky kingdom: You get the land. Tired of seeing the bad guys, the robber barons, with all the land? Had enough downtroddenness? Enough spineless invertebration? Ready to seize the land? Revolution? Yes! And how! Here's the 6 secret steps listed in chapter 37 of the revolution manual (Psalms) on how to do it and get the goods: a) Trust in the Lord and do good then you dwell in the land. b) Those who wait on the Lord will inherit the land. c) The meek shall inherit the land. d) Those blessed by the Lord shall inherit the land. e) The righteous shall inherit the land. f) Wait for the Lord and keep his way and he will exalt you to inherit the land. Big idea: Trust God to make things right. Just one question, Can God be trusted?

Today we join a brother or sister to change the world order. We encourage each other to trust in God who himself will bequeath. Not in our own power to wrest. And, together, we give thanks to Christ in his might. His kingdom. His heaven. His land.

Lavishly

 "I will sing to the Lord, because he has treated me lavishly," Psalm 13:6.

Yes, Lord, you are worthy of glory and honor and power for ever! You created everything, by your will it all came into existence. You have treated me with incredible generosity. You saved me from the formidable foe. You delivered me from certain death. I shook in dread. But you calmed. My heart filled with sorrow. But you comforted. My soul sat at loss. But you found me. I feared you forgot me. But you didn't. I thought you turned your face away from me. But it wasn't. Out of great depths I cried to you. And you reached into my heart, you raised me into your embrace. My cries of woe are now become songs of praise for you.

Today we join a brother or sister and, together, we sing of the Lord's over-the-top mercy. We sing, Thank You, Lord. We sing.

To Fly

 "God will wipe away every tear from their eyes, death itself is no longer; neither mourning nor crying nor distress - It's all gone," Revelation 21:4.

The sky kingdom in its fulness! Jesus hands his dearly wrested kingdom over to God. He delivers his church, whole, into its Creator's hands. And, wonder of wonders!, God pitches his own tent (btw, that's exactly what it says) right in the middle of the whole congregation. God makes his dwelling with people. He comes home to his people. How incredible is this?! Yet, that's what it says. This little church that begins now to manifest Jesus, savior, king, lord, on this forgotten planet; a church filled with mourners ... then ends in a new sky, a new earth. Totally. God, tissue in hand, dabs every tear from every eye. Mourners no longer. Blessed are.

We meet today with a brother or sister, Jesus' church. By faith, we stand together intently and deliberately toward the incoming tide. Its consoling waves even now break over us. And washed, we expect confidently to rise, alive, sails unfurled, to fly even. We give thanks to the one and only God, king of the ages! Through Jesus, his son.

Consoled

 "Loud weeping and wailing, Rachel crying, not to be consoled, her children are no more," Matthew 2:18.

How many mothers must cry for their children, lost, taken, exploited, killed? How many fathers must guard anxiously lest their kids don't come home? Kingdoms of this world, doing their best, finally fail in their capacity to protect and serve. Some even participate in the tragedies. Baby Jesus came to such a world. To such a kingdom. To such a time. To a woman, mother, refugee. To a man, guardian of the baby, on the run from authorities. Jesus, a man acquainted with sorrow. Indeed. A man moved with compassion for a grieving mother. A man sighing from deep within for clueless people. Weeping for a dead friend. For the bereaved. A man knowing deep betrayal. Persecuted by foes. Forsaken by closest friends. Tortured by the best. Exposed, naked, executed, finally, by grossly unjust human justice. This man, who bore such iniquity, proclaimed the sky kingdom, this very man said: Blessed, the mourners, for they shall be consoled. His words.

Today, we seek and find a brother or sister and mourn injustice together. And we comfort each other as we await the consolation of Israel. And of all who have loved his appearing. The Risen Christ is coming soon.

Unimaginable

 "Blessed, you that weep now: for you will laugh," Luke 6:21.

Inherent to the sky kingdom: God's promises, God's future present. Kingdoms of this world aspire to life, liberty, and the pursuit of one's happiness, in this world. Do they deliver? Consider today's news - how happy are its people? Yet, citizens of the kingdom of heaven, who yet live in this world, recognize God's kingdom operates on a different plane. Dying to self, slavery to Christ, pursuit of others' good. It doesn't sound like fun at all. In fact, sounds like a recipe for sadness. But Jesus says it's like a mom giving birth. Labor's no fun at all. Anxiety and grief during delivery. Inevitable part of the deal. But then! All that's forgotten when the baby comes. Like Sarah of old, laughter! Worth it. The sky kingdom's rigors yield unimaginable happiness.

We acknowledge the real sufferings of a brother or sister. Too, we hear Scripture: Present sufferings are not worth comparing to future glory. So we live, now, resting in Jesus' laughter tomorrow. And together we give thanks.

Reap

 "You will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will turn into joy," John 16:20.

The kingdom of heaven recognizes mourning, sorrow, weeping, unbearable sadness resulting from earth's struggles. Life in the sky kingdom, in the kingdom of God and of his Christ, acknowledges hardships of this world's kingdoms. It confesses the sad results of willfulness and rebellion, and the consequent sufferings of innocents. In God's kingdom, his subjects are not denied mourning. Indeed, they mourn for tragedies. For sin, for its consequences. The sky kingdom receives mourners. The church of which Jesus is Lord does not pretend happiness from the world's national actions. Yet. Yet. Yet. Jesus promises in his kingdom mourners will find comfort. They that sow in tears will reap in joy.

So. We lament together with a brother or sister. Today. And hope. Today. And anticipate tomorrow, in God's tomorrow, a joy to knock our socks off. And we give thanks to Jesus, the man of sorrows, who, for the joy set before him, endured the cross. For his beloved congregation.

Comfort

"Happy, the mourners, for they shall be comforted," Matthew 5:4.

Jesus' view of the sky kingdom surprises! How can people in mourning be happy, blessed? He doesn't exactly explain how it all goes down, but he states the result without reservation: in the church of God, yes, people mourn, but in the end it's not like in earthly nations. In those kingdoms, at the end of the day, mourners have to just stuff it. Nonsense about loved ones still living in our hearts substitutes really poorly for their real hugs. Monuments to long forgotten people fill graveyards. Contrast: Hope, confident expectation (say that slowly: c-o-n-f-i-d-e-n-t    e-x-p-e-c-t-a-t-i-o-n), forms matrix for the kingdom of heaven. Monuments crumble to dust. Resurrection to life - yet ahead! That's hope provided in Jesus' church. That's real comfort. Not southern. Real.

Today, find a brother or sister and weep with them for the sadnesses in this world. And then, speak the comfort of kingdom hope. In this sky kingdom, lived on earth, Jesus is alive! And, all together now, say, Thank You, God. Amen!

Honor

 "O Jehovah, our God, how glorious your name in all the earth! Your majesty has been lifted beyond the skies," Psalm 8:1.

God establishes celebration from the mouths of breast-feeding babies, because he stopped his foes in their tracks. No contest. Baby praises in God's economy form power enough to undo the enemy. And then, Oh! The skies! Dark skies, sequined and glittered and luminesced, boast God's handmade moon and stars. And then. God gives science to humans! The capacity to know and guide the world, its domesticated things and its wild things. Things of land, of sea, of air. Why does God honor humans like this, why does he even care? And then. We see Jesus. Become one of us. And we marvel all over again!

Today, together with a brother or sister that you give us, we praise you, O God, Jehovah! O Lord, our Lord, how wonderful your name in all the earth!

Trained

"Every scribe trained for the kingdom of the skies is like a householder who draws out of his treasure new things and old things," Matthew 13:52.

Jesus trains his followers. At least those who will follow him. And these trained disciples have the capacity to discern. To tell the difference between new and old treasure. To know the difference between new and old wineskins. To distinguish between what belongs to one age and what belongs to another. To sort the things that belong to the sky kingdom from the things that belong to earth's kingdoms. To discern what is pleasing to the Lord. His disciples understand, for example, the difference between poor in spirit and self-promotion. That the kingdom of heaven, for which they have been trained, calls unequivocally for blessing in personal humility. Not in personal power.

We visit today with a brother or sister and give thanks. We recognize the Master's mindful humility: releasing hold on divine power, emptying himself, being born a man servant, obeying God to death, dying on a cross. And, trained together, we live into that same mind. Into the kingdom of heaven.

Unearthly

"The mystery of the kingdom of the skies has been given for you to know, but not for them," Matthew 13:11.

That's Jesus' answer as to why he spoke in parables. Weird. Doesn't sound like the reason folks offer that he spoke in parables to make the lesson easy to remember. In fact, it sounds quite opposite - so that they would not, could not, get it. Yeah, well, here's the deal. Stuff of the sky kingdom belongs to another realm. The sky kingdom, by its unearthly nature, challenges their earthly notions. It's not part of their nature. They don't get it, naturally. If you want it, you must be trained for it. Jesus nurtures his people for it: it's been given for you (he says) to know. For you, who would be disciplined, by him, in that kingdom. And instruction for the unearthly kingdom of heaven begins with poor in spirit. You want to be trained? Your choice. It'll go against your (earthly) nature.

The sky kingdom makes beachhead on earth with his assembly, his church. Brothers and sisters, he trains us together in his spiritual poverty. And we give thanks to God for inheritance in the kingdom of heaven. No mystery to us, Christ's humility.

Cohort

"And as you go, announce these words: The kingdom of the skies is coming!" Matthew 10:7.

That's Jesus to his disciples. Well before he died. So there they are making that announcement. What do people expect? Mighty soldiers in battle array? Army legions surging up mountainsides? Glorious battles routing hated oppressors? In a word, Yes. That's the likely expectation. But. But how does Jesus describe this cohort? Poor in spirit. Doesn't sound like much of a kingdom, does it? Not for real men, anyway. And yet. And yet; something in this kingdom pulls powerfully. This high kingdom draws from deep within a man. Makes a man real. For the first time.

On earth, Jesus' church is now that kingdom. We approach a brother or sister today, we recognize together our Master's humility against his oppressors. And, humbly, we give thanks. For his death, for his burial, and for his glorious resurrection.

Receiving

"Jesus began to preach saying, Repent, for the kingdom of the skies draws near," Matthew 4:17.

So Jesus' big message from his baptism onward points to a kingdom closing in on us. Just there, nearby. It's coming and it's almost there. What kind of kingdom? A kingdom ruled from the skies. A kingdom ruled by none other than God. Yes, the kingdom of God. God ruling ... over what? over whom? Over his people. And what does this people ruled by God look like? For inquiring minds, Jesus tells all. He sits on the mountain to say this people look poor in spirit. Spiritual beggars. Needy. Underprivileged. (Somewhat humbling, isn't it?) But wait! They're happy. (Because they're underprivileged? Good grief - No! Nobody's happy because they're poor.) Happy because they're not forgotten: they get it, the kingdom belongs to them. The privileged don't get it, don't get in. Not without gotta repent first.

God's kingdom on earth is now come with Jesus' reign. It stands as his humble people, his church. It is God's good pleasure to give it to his little flock. wow! We find a brother or sister today. Together, we give thanks for receiving his kingdom.

Beginnings

"He went around all Galilee preaching the gospel of the kingdom," Matthew 4:23.

Good news of the kingdom. The kingdom centered in the skies. The kingdom belonging to God. The realm where God reigns. In the skies. Now coming to earth. At hand. You can stretch out and just touch it. God's rule. Jesus travelled the whole of Galilee teaching in their gathering places. Proclaiming God's rule breaking out from the skies into this world. At any moment now. And what words did Jesus' hearers all around and in the synagogues hear? About this kingdom so near? From the skies? Ruled by God? Here's where their hearing began: Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

As we visit humbly with a brother or sister today, we experience through each other God's reign. And we give thanks to God for the good news in Jesus.

Lifter

"You, O Jehovah, are a shield around me; my glory, and the lifter of my head," Psalm 3:3.

Scoffers scoff saying, God won't save. God won't heal. But we know different, don't we? Remember when we felt no escape possible? When all seemed lost? Souls wracked in sorrow? Yes, we remember. In anguish we called out to the Lord, didn't we? And he sustained us, didn't he? He protected us, didn't he? Sleep deprived we cried out loud to God, didn't we? And he provided rest, didn't he? Remember how we couldn't even hold up our heads? But the Lord lifted them, didn't he? Oh, yes. We remember. And we will not fear ten thousand oppressors.

God's brightness shines through shadows to become our glory. Today, with a brother or sister, we remind each other of our God's gentle, and mighty, deeds to save. And, together, we give thanks.